leber



`L. H. LEBBR.. SToRR SRRVIGR APPARATUS.

2 Sheets-Sheet:v 2'.

(No Model.)

L. H. LEBER.- STORE SERVICE .L REERRRRUS.

Patented'f'eb. 16.1892.

@Vi/Miaou@ EEE LUTHER H. LEBER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDVIN W. PORTER AND DAVID J. RICHARDSON, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,980, dated February 16, 1892.

Application filed October '7, 1891.

To all whom it rita/y concern,.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER H. LEBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speciiication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings represents a perspective view showing one end of my improved store-service apparatus; Fig. 2, a detail sideelevation, on a reduced scale, of the turn-table, showing its connection with the main track and the supports at the opposite end, also showing the electric motor and carrier in position on the turn-table. Fig. 3 represents a detail end view of' Fig. 2 with the electric motor and carrier removed Fig. 4, a detail cross-sectional elevation through the main track, showing the electrical connections thereto, also showing the construction of the motor, the casing thereof being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 5 represents a detail plan view of the device forvtaking the receptacle from the carrierwhen the two are brought in contact with each other. Fig. 6 represents 'a detail View, partly in section, of that portion of the motor-casing provided with the hinged hook to which the receptacle for receiving the cash is suspended and which I term the carriera The present invention has relation to that class of store-service apparatus in which the carrier is propelled along the track by electricity;`and the invention consists in providing means whereby such apparatus is materially improved in the several details of construction and its practicability enhanced.

In carrying out my invention I provide means whereby the rails of the main track are electrically charged in connection with a carrier having a suitable electric motor which takes its electric current therefrom and thereby propels the carrier along the track to the desired station. In connection with such electrically-charged rails of the main track I provide a snpplementaltrack and also a turnary.

Serial No. 407,984. (No model.)

table whereby the carrier and motor thereon are transferred from the main track to said supplemental track and turn-table for the purpose of reversing the carrier and motor, so that it will traverse the main track in an opposite direction or back from whence it started; also in providing means whereby the supplemental track is raised or lowered to an angle with the main track, so that the motor 6o and carrier will pass off and onto the main track 'by gravity.

The invention further consists in a simple and effective means for operating the device that takes the receptacle-from the carrier when brought in contact therewith, and also the means employed for operating the turntable and holding it rigid and stationary, so that the track-section thereon will be in line with the other section constituting the sup- 7o plemental track. i

The invention further consists in improving the several operating parts of the appara- 'tus whereby their action is made easier and more convenient for the attendant, the several objects and purposes of the invention herein referred to being attained by the construction substantially shown in the drawings, and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A desig- 8o nates two standards or posts of any suitable construction and of any desirable material which are connected to and supported by the Hoor or counter or by any other convenient object that is sufficiently rigid and station- In the present instance I have shown the standards or posts constructed from asingle length of metal rod and at the top bent in U shape or arched, as shown in Fig. 1.

As I lay no claim to any special form of 9o standards or posts, it is evident that two separate rods may be used which would be connected together by a cross-piece, orany form of supports may be used without departing from the principle of my invention. These standards or posts are of suitable height, and have near the upper ends elongated slots aand a suitable pulley, over which passes a cord c. p

The cord c is of sufficient length to extend roo down within reach of a person standing on the floor, and the opposite end of the cord is hereinafter described.

/ rail-sect-ions E being suitably hinged to'the' The rail-sections D and the rail-sections E form together what I term a supplemental track, which is raised or lowered by means of the bail and cord above described. The rail-sections D are located between the leverarms C and rail-sections E and are suitably connected to a turn-table F, the same being supported by a platform G. F has depending therefrom upon its under side locking-pins d, which pins are adaptedto enter holes in the platform G, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The pins are for the purpose fof, locking the turn-table stationary on the platform and in the proper position to bring the en ds of the rail-sections D on a line with.

the ends of the rail-sections E, so as to make al continuous track with that of the main track, which will be hereinafter described.

The platform G has rigidly connected to its under side a bracket H, which bracket is in like manner connected with the rail-section D and lever-arms C, so that the platform, .railsections, and lever-arms will be connected together and raised or lowered by the bail AB and cord c, as hereinbefore referred to.

The turn-table F has axially connected to its under side a rod I, said rod extendingdown through a central holel in the platform G, the purpose of which is to raise the turntable sufficiently to release the pins d from .engagements with the holes in the platform G, also to elevate the turn-table a sufficient distance above the leyar-arms C and the rail- ,sections E to enable it Q freely turn, in order to reverse the carrier wih its electric motor,

so that it will'travel in an opposite direction .upon the track to where it started from. The rod I also passes down through a hole in the bracket I-I, and, if desired, may be provided .with a suitable handle or other means for operating it as may be found most desirable and best adapted to the purpose.

The free ends of the lever-arms C extend through the slots c in the posts or standards A, which provide guides for said armsand prevent any lateral strain or displacement thereof that would tend to bring them out of line with the rail-sections D.

The supplemental track consists of the two, .rail-sections D E, hereinbefore described,the

rails K of the main track. The supplemental track is insulated from the main track by any of the usual and well-known means, and for the proper operation of the apparatus it is necessary that the carrier and motor pass from the main track onto the supplemental track, and vice versa. To provide for this is the purpose of the lever-arms and the cord and bail connected thereto, hereinbefore described,whereby the supplemental track can The turn-tablebe lower-ed or raised to the necessary angle to cause the carrier and motor to pass off or onto -the supplemental track by gravity When the carrier and motor pass onto the supplemental track, which is Vinsulated from the main track, the electriehcurrent is broken and the motor ceases to operata-this being done by the supplemental track being on a downgrade with relation to the main track. When thesupplemental track is elevated by the cord c to the desired angle, the carrier and motor thereon/- will descend by gravity onto the main track and make electrical connections with the rails K.

To the side of one of the rails K projects a guideplate L, which `extends horizontally therefrom, and has holes through which pass guide-rods f, which are connected at their lower ends below the plate to across-head g. This cross-head g carries a suitable hooked rod M for engaging the eyez'of the receptacle N when the eye of this receptacle is brought in contact therewith, as will be hereinafter more fully described. y

To the head g is connected a cord h, which extends down within reach,and to the upper side of the head is attached a second cord k, which passes up through a hole in the plate L, and thence overa pulley] upon one of the standards or posts A.

The rails K of the main track have connected thereto an arch wire-netting O of any suitable construction and secured thereto in any desirable and' well-knoWn-manner, and the rails of the main track are supported along the line of the track by suitable arched hangers P, or other preferred and well'- known means, which are connected at their upper ends to the ceiling or other stationary object, may be substituted for that shown. The metal rails K of the main track are insulated by means of the wooden sleepers n or by any of the means ordinarily employed, and connecting with the rails are the conductors o pnamely, a-negative and a positive polewhich electrically charge the rails.

The conductors above described are connected with a suitable dynamo, storage-battery, or otherwell-known device for generating electrical currents which are of such well` known construction that to illustrate it in the IOC IIO

drawings or a detail description of it is con- 1 undervform and construction, is represented at R,

and is supported upon Wheels that travel u pon the rails of the tracks and has a depending hinged hook S for connecting thereto a suitable receptacle N.

The carrier, which may be of any suitable form and construction, is combined with an electric motor of any of the usual and wellknown forms and of anyknown construction, and the receptacle may also be of-any of the kinds now in common use, or one may be employed especially adapted to the apparatus.

As I lay no claim to the construction of the motor and have shown one of many forms that may be used successfully with my invention, it is therefore deemed unnecessary to elaborate on the description thereof other than to give a brief outline of the essential features necessary to a motor of this character, in order that the operation of the-invention may be intelligently understood. The motor is covered by a casing s of suitable construction, which protects it from the dust and dirt. In describing the operation of the motor it will be understood that the wheels at one end of the motor coming in contact with the electrically-charged rails will collect the current therefrom, which is transferred to the tracers t, and thence through themedium of the con` -ductors u fu, thus giving power toy the motor and causing the carrier to be propelled along the rails of the main track.

The armature-shaft is shown at w, and the conductors, field-magnets, and tracers being essential elements in an electric motor, as well as the various other parts thereof, any further description is deemed unecessary.

Although the carrierin the present instance is shown as supported upon four Wheels, that number is not necessary, as two wheels will suffice, but not give the carrier as Iirm a support when moving along the track.

In describing the operation of the mechanical parts 'of the invention which have no connection with the electric parts it should be understood thatthe ends of the main track and each station along the same are provided with a supplemental track, a turn-table, and

the several attachments and devices shown in Fig. l. lVhen the carrier and motor reach the end of the main track or an-y of the stations thereon, the supplemental track is lowered so that the carrier and motor will descend by gravity onto the turn-table, and the supplemental track being removed from contact with the electrically-charged rails of thelnain track and likewise the motor and carrier no power on the carrier is exerted by the motor. The motor and carrier now being in position on the turn-table, the latter is turned around, as hereinbefore described, to reverse the motor, after which the supplemental track is raised by means of the cord and bail attached thereto, so as to cause the motor and carrier to automatically descend by gravity upon the main track, when the electricallychargedrails thereof will, through the motor, propel the carrier along to the opposite end of the track. As the carrier passes along the track and in close proximity to the hooked rod M, the receptacle N is' caught up thereby and removed from the carriage and held suspended. By now pulling on the cord h the receptacle is brought down within convenient reach of the attendant, after which it is removed of its contents. This being accomplished, the receptacle is again brought into use by replacing upon the hooked rod M and the cord released, after which the weight on the cord Z will cause the hook, with the receptacle, to automatically ascend to its normal position to be taken up by the hook S of the carrier. The hook S is hinged so that it willallow the carrier and motor to pass onto the'turn-table, as

shown in dotted lines of Fig. 6, and to prevent the carrier and motor from passing'beyond the turn-table the lever-arms C are provided at their ends with stops T. i The rod I is also provided with a stop U, which is ad-l justable thereon and held in its adjusted position by means of a set-screw y, so as to limit the upward movement of the turn-table. rlhere are many details of construction that may be variously modified Without depart-y ing from the principle of my invention, and I therefore Wish it understood that I reserve the :right to make any such changes or moditications in the several details of construction as would come Within ordinary mechanical skill. Any'of that portion of the invention relating to the electrical connections may be changed at will, as found necessary, as no claim is laid thereto. 1

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a-stor'e-service apparatus, the combi-` nation, with a main track, of asupplemental track consisting of two sections of rails independent of each other and provided with a to said main track and the other section rigidly connected to a turn-table, and means for raising and lowering the supplemental track, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the combination, with the main track, of a supplemental track provided with a turn-table carrying one section of the supplemental track, locking-pins projecting from the under side thereof, a platform for supporting the turn-table having holes for the reception of thelockingpins, and means for raising and lowering the turn-table, substantially as and for the'purpose specified.

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combi.- tion,witl1 a main track, of a supplemental track consisting of two sections of rails, one of which is hinged to the main track and the other rigidly secured to a turn-table, a platform for supporting the turn-table, a bracket connected to the under side of said platform and rigidly connected to the hinged section ICO IIO

`turn-table, one of said sections being hinged of rail upon one side of the turn-table and to lever-arms upon the other side, and means for operating` the supplemental track, substantially as set forth.

4. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a main track having electricallycharged rails, a carrier havin gva motor which takes its current therefrom, an insulated supplemental track/"aJ turn-table carryingsaid track, and means for operating them, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

5. In a store-service apparatus, the combination, with the main track, of the supplemental track hinged thereto, a vertically-movable turn-table, and lever-arms having stops to prevent the carrier with its motor from passing,r oif said turn-table, substantially as and for the purpose specified. p

6. In a store-service apparatus, the combination, with the main track, the turn-table,

. and supplemental track hinged to said main track, of a motor and carrier and a hook hinged to the carrier for attaching thereto the receptacle, so as to allow the motor and'oarrier to pass from the main track onto the supplemental track, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A store-serviceapparatus comprising an elect rically-ch arged main track, a hinged supplemental track insulated therefrom, leverarms connecting,- with the supplemental track and provided with stops, means for operating the lever-arms to bring the supplemental track on ann incline, a turn-table supported by a platform, means for locking it in position after being turned, and a carrier provided With a motor which takes its current fromthe electrically-charged rails, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

- LUTHER H. LEBER. Witnessesf W. C. SCOTT, I. J. WILSON. 

